Eytan Bernstein is the author behind The Le Games' "17 Magic Shields," a product that is misnamed as it actually contains eighteen magic shields and two artifacts for your Dungeons & Dragons game.

Before getting into the shields themselves, however (and after a few random treasure generation tables), writer Bernstein introduces a new type of shield enchantment. The 'reprimand' enchantment allows a shield to react to an opponent's deflected attack when that opponent's attack role misses making a solid hit due to the shield's AC bonus. The reprimand power may cause an opponent to become fatigued (as with the 'fatiguing reprimand' enchantment) or stun and deafen a opponent (as with the 'thundering reprimand' enchantment).

There is a good mix of interesting shield enchantments here (like 'hypnotic,' which can dazzle and fascinate an opponent for 1d4 rounds; or 'silence,' which creates a ten-foot zone of silence around the shield bearer), as well as specific shields (like the 'aegis of force,' a light shield that can absorb 'magic missile' attacks and increase its AC bonus until it releases the 'magic missiles' as attacks of its own; or the 'shield of conviction,' which grants a +2 to the bearer's caster level for abjuration spells and grants a +2 bonus to turn and rebuke undead checks).

The final two items in this supplement - artifacts from the kingdom of Molary - are two powerful shields that either cause severe damage with powerful shield spikes or can add bonuses to damage and attack roles, increase critical threat ranges or even cause a shockwave within a 20-foot radius that may knock opponents prone.

The variety of shields in this supplement is wide; there are artifacts included, but this is not a high-end magic product. Instead, The Le Games and Eytan Bernstein have created a collection of varying levels of shield enchantments and specific shield types.

The .pdf is well-formatted and laid out, and the clip art choices fit the product. With the exception of some clunky wording describing the previously mentioned 'aegis of force,' "17 Magic Shields" is a competently-produced product that players and DMs will find affordable and usable.

LIKED: This is an affordable product that introduces a variety of different enchantment and shield types to your Dungeons & Dragons game. The production and layout of this supplement is top-notch, and the material is easy to use and incorporate into your existing or new game or campaign.

DISLIKED: There is a bit of clunkiness to some of the wording describing some of the shields' effects (specifically the 'aegis of force'), but it is not enough to detract from the obvious value of this product.